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Heat pads are good for leopard geckos when used correctly with a thermostat, but overhead heating is now considered the most natural and effective primary heat source. The primary goal is to provide a warm area that aids digestion and thermoregulation. 

Role of Heat Pads

• Belly Heat for Digestion: Heat pads provide a localized, consistent warm spot on the enclosure floor, which helps with digestion. The surface temperature in the warm hide should reach around 90-92°F (32-33°C).
• Nighttime Heat (if needed): They produce no visible light, making them suitable for 24/7 use without disrupting the gecko's day/night cycle, provided they are on a thermostat. A nighttime temperature drop to 60°F is healthy, but if the room temperature falls below that, a heat pad or ceramic heat emitter can be used.
• Supplemental Heat: Heat pads can be used in tandem with overhead heating if the overhead source alone isn't sufficient to reach the target warm hide temperatures. 

Drawbacks and Essential Precautions

• Thermostat Required: A heat pad must be connected to a quality thermostat to prevent overheating and severe burns to your gecko. Heat rocks should be avoided entirely as they cannot be regulated and are prone to causing burns.
• Placement: Heat pads should be placed on the outside bottom of the tank, covering one-third to one-half of the enclosure, to create a proper temperature gradient.
• Limited Coverage: Heat mats primarily heat surfaces and do not effectively warm the ambient air in larger enclosures. This makes them less ideal as a sole heat source.
• Unnatural Heat Source: In their natural habitat, warmth comes from the sun above, and geckos retreat underground to cool down. Heat from below is less natural than an overhead source.